NewHavenBIZ

12 n e w h a v e n B I Z | J u l y 2 0 2 2 | n e w h a v e n b i z . c o m rental business. "I'm on an Airbnb group with 35,000 members, and if you're not discern- ing it can be a nightmare," she said, mentioning that she's on the Airbnb platform since the company carries insurance. Singer said she charges a little more to attract a discerning clientele. "I want people who value aesthetics, ones who are willing to pay a bit more for it." "We live and die by reviews," she added. Another tip is to invest in a com- fortable bed, couch and power strips for those who work remotely. "Don't cheap out. Always be available and pay attention to detail. You get out of it what you put into it. You gotta work it," she said. According to Singer, platforms can work synergistically with one another. "I'm on Vrbo too," she said. is applies to hotels, as well. Ac- cording to the May 2022 Hotel Tech Report, a hotel can increase short-term By Stephanie Kalina-Metzger F or travelers and those who de- pend on travel to make a living, the last two years have been a slog, but not for Airbnb hosts who have found their rentals in demand during the pandemic. e travelers they have been attract- ing prefer private houses and rooms over hotels. Airbnb spokesperson Sam Randall said people are increasingly turning to hosting as a way to earn extra money. He points to a recent survey of Con- necticut's host community, which found that 45 percent of hosts do it to cover the rising cost of living. Another 40 per- cent said they host to make "ends meet," and 35 percent said they do it to make extra spending money. Connecticut Airbnb hosts since 2010 have earned nearly $280 mil- lion, Randall said. Last year, Airbnb operators in New Haven County made $14 million. Among them is Pat Heavren and her hus- band Joe DeRisi, who run a Hamden property they've dubbed "A Restor- ative Stay in the Woods." Heavren started renting out a room in her home when her daughter le the nest. "I started in 2021, right at the height of the pandemic," Heavren said, adding that she never had any trouble renting her property. Heavren was later recog- nized as a "super host," and then as a "top new host," by Airbnb. To achieve "top new host" recognition, superhosts need to achieve an average customer service rating of 4.9 out of 5. Heavren rents the room for $65 a night. Local Airbnb hosts find profits, compete with hotels in short-term rental market "A $20 cleaning fee is attached to that and we do our own cleaning, plus there are taxes and a cut for Airbnb," said Heavren, estimating that she nets about $82 for the first night and $62 for subsequent additional nights. She said that it's nice to augment the cou- ple's income, but it's also about sharing the beauty of their home and gardens. 'Live and die by reviews' Leslie Singer is another superhost who has been managing the "e Bird's Nest" in New Haven, which she has listed on Airbnb since 2020, around when the pandemic start- ed. She lives downstairs in the 1876 brownstone and is in charge of en- suring that guests have a seamless stay. e Bird's Nest currently rents for $135 a night and, accord- ing to Singer, business has been booming. She credits her back- ground in copywriting, paired with her extensive travel experience, for her ability to attract business. "People who came during COVID-19 did so to get out of the house," said Singer, adding she also allows pets so that guests are able to get out and walk their dogs in the parks and not feel so isolated. Singer said she rents to people from Yale when they host reunions and during anksgiving and other holidays, but the majority of her busi- ness is from those who want a change of scenery. "I get couples every weekend from New York City, Maine, New Hamp- shire, Rhode Island, New Jersey, you name it," she said. Singer has a few tips for anyone who may be interested in the short-term bookings by listing on the Airbnb plat- form, which is now delivering up to 15 percent of bookings. Hotels vs. short-term rentals Fletcher Williams, general manager at the Omni New Haven Hotel at Yale, described COVID-19's impact on the hotel industry. "With the Northeast being the epicenter of the pandemic, it made it tougher for us and business travel has been slow to return," he said, adding that leisure travel is making a come- back, especially during the summer months. Williams hopes to see an increase in corporate business in the near future. "We have 22,000 square feet of meeting space and a 9,200-square-foot ballroom, which is the largest within a 30-mile area, where people can enjoy a downtown urban setting," he said. Ginny Kozlowski, executive director of the Connecticut Lodging Associa- tion, said that area hotels and short- PHOTOS | CONTRIBUTED A short-term rental property in New Haven called "The Bird's Nest" (pictured above and right) is located in an 1876 brownstone. Leisure & Hospitality PHOTO | CONTRIBUTED Pat Heavren, named Best New Airbnb Host in Connecticut, rents out a room in Hamden with her husband Joe DeRisi.

• Cover